Dreaming Silence

Blossom

Over the next few weeks, the boys would sit in the same booth and wait for my lunch break.  If you thought toddlers were hard to keep an eye on, that thought would dissipate at the sight of these goons.  One moment, they were ordering shakes, the next, piling all the condiments into the melted concoction they could find: ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, sugar packets, creamer, strawberry syrup, and left-over diet Mountain Dew they found in a parking lot.  

It was a Tuesday afternoon, rainy and a slow day at the diner.  It was only me and the cook Florence (a heavy-set woman who reminded me of Mammy from Gone with the Wind) at the shop, cleaning up while tending the counter.  The gang was to show up any moment.  I had their drinks and snack already set up at their booth when the door jangled its tinny bell.  Instead of the light, humorous voices I had grown used to, upsetting feminine chatter filled the space.  Good-bye, peaceful day.

"But seriously, what is her problem? If Chelsea wants to hang out with Kenny, she's gotta go through me first."  

A faux-blonde was wiping her boots and hanging up a puffy winter jacket that could've directed air traffic from California to New York.  Similar-looking chicks were following suit and arguing over who was prettier in a pathetic fashion.  Ugh, why is every female that walks in here so transparent and ...

Awful?

"Hey, daydreamer, anyone home? We're starving. Jesus, doesn't anyone know how to treat people with respect anymore!" The leader hissed to her girls.

"Erm--Sorry about that. What can I do you for?"

"Ugh. Wow, really? 'What can I do you for'? Is that some kind of Alabama thing? Yeah, we'll take four green teas and some blueberry danishes.  If you can manage."

Great. These things were staying around for a while, weren't they?

I gathered up some cups and filled each with boiling hot water with the teabags.  The danishes would have to wait for a bit. The water was going to scold my hands if I mistook a step. Walking over to the girls, I saw them sitting in the boys' booth.  Suddenly my nerves were on edge.  Didn't this alpha chick mention Kenny earlier...?

"Here's your tea. I'll get your pastries soon." Their faces were less than grateful.  Yeesh.

"Is that the girl Kenny always is talking about? Egret or something like that? Wow, how inaccurate was that description?" One of them snickered.  My face burned bright red like the first day I moved in here, when I met Lance..

My body kept moving towards the counter like a machine, my mind having no control.  My fingers were trembling softly as I took the small plates out from the cupboard.  A small tear rolled down my cheek, flustering my emotions.  Why am I crying? What do I care what they say?

Don't look up. Don't do anything. You'll only embarrass yourself more. Just give them their crap and go.

The danishes were in the display case with the jammed lock.  I had to get on the step stool to reach for the keys on top of the cabinets.  Reaching up, my fingers grasped the small bronze key chain.  My feet were stepping down to the tacky linoleum where a change roll had fallen earlier this morning (which would've been picked up if I wasn't lazy).  Suddenly my world was upside down, literally.  All the air in my lungs rushed out and my sight was dazed with splotches.  

Great, now we've done it.  They must think we're some special breed of idiot.  I got up slowly, rubbing the back of my head.  The girls had been videotaping me the whole time, now giggling and poking at their touch-screen phones, probably posting to Snapchat.